Writing off the chances of underdogs has proven ill-advised in this year's provincial encounters in the All-Ireland SFC.
In the wake of a number of shocks, Éamonn Fitzmaurice and Lee Keegan are refusing to underestimate the prospects of Down and Roscommon in their upcoming fixtures against Armagh and Galway.
Roscommon pulled off an upset Rossies fans would regard as of the minor variety when downing Mayo in Castlebar.
However, only the most enthusiastic of their followers could have dreamed of the team cruising to a 2-25 to 1-18 victory.
In The Sunday Game studio, Lee Keegan insisted that the Rossies had "a huge chance" of landing the Nestor Cup a fortnight from now, when they face a Galway outfit who failed to convince in a 1-20 to 2-12 victory over Leitrim on Saturday.
'This is a huge opportunity for them at home to win a Connacht opportunity' - The panel give Roscommon every chance to beating Galway in a provincial decider pic.twitter.com/wtcaXlK3Ha
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) April 26, 2026
"It's in Dr Hyde Park. They were missing arguably three of their best players in Ruaidhrí Fallon, Brian Stack and Daire Cregg, they have to come back in," he said.
"We don't know about Galway. The performance was very shabby at the weekend, not sure of their best team, and they have injuries.
"From a Roscommon perspective, they have a huge opportunity, and they are well capable of doing it in two weeks' time."
Fitzmaurice flagged that being significant outsiders against Mayo suited Mark Dowd's side, and that greater expectations against the Tribesmen had the potential to weigh heavier on their shoulders, but echoed Keegan's sentiments, saying: "This is a huge opportunity for them at home to win a Connacht Championship and if they can replicate their form from today, they'll take beating."
Down's 3-21 to 1-21 defeat of Donegal in Letterkenny has to be regarded as a seismic shock, but when football's Richter scale settles and the aftershocks abate, will the Mournemen be capable of replicating that display and rocking Armagh next weekend?
How will Down handle the growing expectation when they take on Armagh in an Ulster semi-final? pic.twitter.com/XjdpZip0CH
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) April 26, 2026
"We all tipped them not to win today and it was the performance of the championship," Keegan said.
"I'd say Conor Laverty will have a bit of trouble to have them together for the seven days! They'll go out with huge belief. The problem for them is the expectation after a big, big performance today.
"Can they handle that now against Armagh? Armagh, to be fair, have come through a couple of tough games, particularly the Tyrone game.
"I think Down, given the performance today and the nature of it, they are in a really good position and you will not write them off."
Fitzmaurice believes Down already have the template in place to pose a major challenge to the Orchard County and said: "Armagh play similar to Donegal, which will suit. The gameplan will continue on to next weekend.
"Obviously, there will be nuances for Armagh, but at the same time, a lot of what they did today, if they can replicate it next weekend, will stand to them."
